Spring sports stars: Who are the top freshmen around Grand Rapids? Our picks, your votes

GRAND RAPIDS, MI - From future Division-I college athletes to state champions, the Grand Rapids area is loaded with prep standouts during this spring high school sports season.

With that in mind, we’re highlighting some that have elevated their game to elite status as part of a multi-week project recognizing the area’s best athletes by graduating class, then giving readers a chance to vote on the one they think stands out above the rest.

This week’s focus is the freshmen, who are looking to make their mark by contributing to deep tournament runs.

Follow along as we look at 15 of the Grand Rapids area’s best spring sports athletes from the class of 2028, then place your vote at the end.

Readers have unlimited voting until 9 a.m. Monday, May 12, and we’ll publish the winner later in the week. Voting has no bearing on postseason honors, such as the all-conference or all-state teams.

RELATED: Future Division-I college lacrosse player leading GR Catholic Central’s state title defense

If the poll does not appear at the bottom of the story, click here to view it.

Aaliyah Bailey, East Kentwood girls track

The talented hurdler ranks second among all the state’s freshmen in the 100-meter hurdles (15.09 seconds) and the 300 hurdles (46.02 seconds), and her personal-best time of 26.00 in the 200 is fifth among the state’s ninth graders. Bailey also runs the third leg of an East Kentwood 800-meter relay team that has qualified for the state meet with a time of 1:42.13.

Makenna Bareman, Unity Christian softball

The catcher and middle infielder has made an immediate impact for a 19-2 Crusaders team that is currently ranked No. 4 in Division 2. Through 21 games, Bareman boasts a .525 batting average with five doubles, four triples and three home runs, while driving in 25 runs and scoring 23 more. Defensively, she has been among the area’s best backstops by throwing out three of four baserunners in 66 2/3 innings behind the plate.

Jillaine Bischoff, Forest Hills Northern girls soccer

One of the most promising soccer players in the Grand Rapids area, the freshman forward has tallied seven goals and 10 assists through 13 games for the 7-1-5 Huskies, who are currently ranked No. 11 in Division 2.

Taliya Dauser, Sparta softball

Dauser has emerged as Sparta’s top pitcher, posting a 2.30 ERA and 0.921 WHIP with 123 strikeouts in 76 innings for the 11-6 Spartans. Offensively, she has helped her cause by batting .289 with two doubles, one triple, four RBIs and six runs scored, and Dauser’s defense has also been solid, with just one error in 16 total chances.

Ellie Hickox, Forest Hills Eastern girls soccer

An Olympic Development Program player, Hickox is adjusting just fine to varsity soccer, scoring 11 goals and adding four assists for a 7-3-2 Forest Hills Eastern team that has a 3-0 win over Division 3 No. 4 GR Catholic Central and ties against D2 No. 3 Forest Hills Central and D2 No. 14 East Grand Rapids.

Henley Honholt, GR Christian girls tennis

Honholt has made an immediate impact for the state’s No. 5 team in Division 3, posting a 11-5 record that includes six wins over returning state qualifiers. All of her 11 losses have come in straight sets, and of her five defeats, three have gone to a third set.

Emma Ingles, Belding softball

The standout pitcher and shortstop is a big reason Belding is 7-7 this season, as Ingles leads Belding in batting average (.429), hits (18), doubles (7), home runs (3), RBIs (19) and runs scored (16). She also holds a 4-2 record in the circle with a 2.35 ERA, 1.382 WHIP and 90 strikeouts in 50 2/3 innings. Defensively, Ingles has adapted well to the varsity level, boasting a fielding percentage of .946 with one double play.

Leah Keur, Zeeland East softball

The shortstop and pitcher has made a big impact for the 7-13 Chix, batting .571 from the leadoff spot with 11 doubles, four triples and a home run, while scoring 39 runs and driving in 18 more. Keur has also displayed impressive plate discipline by drawing 11 walks without a strikeout, and she has stolen nine bases without getting caught. Keur also leads Zeeland East in innings pitched with 41, and she holds a 4.61 ERA with eight strikeouts, a number that should improve as she gets more comfortable facing varsity batters.

Lincoln Laansma, Tri-unity Christian boys track

The rookie distance runner boasts a personal-best time of 9:50.69 in the 3,200-meter run, which ranks eighth in all of Division 4 and has allowed him to qualify for the state meet in that event. In total, Laansma has run the 3,200 five times this year and finished fourth in four of those races.

Tommy Preston, GR Catholic Central boys golf

Catholic Central has captured two state titles in the past four years, and the Cougars appear poised to remain among Michigan’s best for the near future thanks to the emergence of Preston, whose nine-hole scoring average of 37.1 strokes ranks first among the state’s ninth graders, while his 18-hole average of 75.2 is second.

De-Mani Roberts, East Kentwood boys track

The sprinter holds Division 1’s ninth-best time in the 400-meter dash (48.63 seconds) and led off an 800 relay team that posted the third-best time (1:27.41) in D1. His personal-best time of 22.03 seconds in the 200 dash is also the state’s best among freshman sprinters. In total, Roberts has won 11 of his 19 races this season.

Ciara Russell, Greenville girls track

Russell has emerged as one of the state’s most promising high jumpers, with her season-best height of 5 feet, 4 inches tying for seventh-best in Division 1 and ranking third among the state’s freshmen from all divisions.

Kamryn Stankus, Hudsonville softball

The talented outfielder has made an instant impact for the defending Division 1 state champs and is batting .510 with seven doubles, one triple and one home run from the No. 5 spot in the order, while driving in 25 runs and scoring 19 more. Stankus has showed good plate discipline by drawing four walks against four strikeouts, and she also has a solid fielding percentage of .960 with just one error in right field.

Megan Strabbing, Zeeland West softball

The corner infielder and catcher has played an integral role in Zeeland West’s rise to the honorable mention category of the state rankings, as Strabbing boasts a .412 batting average with 10 doubles, 11 RBIs and five runs scored. Defensively, she has a .991 fielding percentage and has thrown out 1 of 5 baserunners in 40 innings behind the plate.

Grayson Tidd, GR Catholic Central boys track

A freshman starter at defensive back on Catholic Central’s powerhouse football program, Tidd picked up his first Division-I scholarship offer from Western Michigan last week, and he’s showing how that athleticism translates to the track. His season-best time of 50.21 seconds in the 400-meter dash currently ranks ninth in Division 2 and has qualified him for the state meet in the event. Tidd has also anchored Division 2’s second-best time in the 1,600 relay.